THE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC WITH THEIR ANIMALS AND SYMBOLS IN RELATION TO OUR SUN AND ATTENDANT PLANETS.

animals selected. Indeed, the symbols are traced with great difficulty in the heavens even with the aid of a star map and a knowledge of what is sought.

If the forms were at all suggested by the configurations of the star-groups we should expect to find a dipper among the first symbols chosen. But since this is not the case, Why were the peculiar animal forms chosen and then applied to the constellations? Simply because these 12 constellations are vehicles through which the 7 great Hierarchies of forces pour forth 12 characteristic streams of force into the solar system. While there are many other constellations named after animals, such as the Dragon, Great Bear and Little Bear, Pegasus, et cetera, all radiating their characteristic forces, yet they are not considered as important because they are not directly within the path or signs of the zodiac.

The animals were chosen because their common and well known characteristics express most closely the intrinsic properties of the currents of force poured forth through the constellations. It must be remembered that the early Races, before their complete immersion in dense physical matter, i.e., before they put on "coats of skin," were far more sensitive to the forces of nature than are the modern, fully materialized Races. Hence they responded to and recognized the characteristics of the various currents of cosmic force. The secret of the orderly arrangement and proper designation of these cosmic currents was explained to their initiated priests by their Divine Teachers by means of the circle of symbolic animals. Hence it was from this Divine source that they received the wonderful science of the zodiac and not from the deductions of their own primitive minds.

Philosophically and spiritually the zodiac is the great Circle of Manifestation within which the created universe appears. In fact, it is the O with which we began our study of numbers, but now filled with the actual manifestation of that

3 See The Key to the Universe, Curtiss, 26.

which was but potential before the unfoldment of the forces within the ; potencies which were fructified by the descent of the Light and brought forth through evolution within the womb (O) of the Great Mother. For cosmically the circle is the Great Deep of the zodiac in which the solar system is brought forth, as well as the Great Deep of waters which covered the earth when it was "without form and void," this tiny globe being but one of the later numerals brought into being in due season by the "Spirit of God" moving on the face of the waters of this Space. The Chaldeans called the circle of the zodiac (Space) Ab soo or the Realm of Divine Knowledge, because it is the Space within which the cosmic system manifests, "that is the dwelling place of all the Intelligent Powers which invisibly rule the universe."

Our physical Sun, as a vehicle of the Great Light, may be compared to a candle that was lighted when the Elohim said, "Let there be Light." Compared to the great Spiritual Zodiac, the in which this candle shines is but as a dot within that Greater Zodiac. It is the nucleus within the egg of its system, the manifestor of its Light and life; for the sun is the focus and distributor through which the One Life is poured and from which all physical Light and life-force proceed. The Sun therefore contains the essence of all its attendant planets, each of which, as it unfolds its special nature and sounds its key-note and manifests its color and number, expresses one of the cosmic numbers evolved from the mighty circle of creativeness.

We might compare the Sun to "the Jewel in the Lotus" of the zodiac, radiating its white Light to each sign. As this Light reaches the planets they break it up like a prism and each appropriates and embodies one dominant color-ray. And while the ray differentiated by each planet is poured out to all the signs of the zodiac, it is focused in the particular signs over which its planet rules. It also has greater power in whatever sign the planet may be transiting, but is more or less modified by the dominant color of the sign as well as by the

colors of the other planets that may be in that sign. Thus each sign catches the positive or negative ray of its ruling planet and acts as a great reflector which sends forth that color-ray with all the forces into all the creations brought forth under that sign, but modified or tinged by the characteristics of the sign through which it passes. The focus into which all these reflected rays are again gathered up, after their cycle of differentiation and accomplishment, unites them again into the one white Light.

Each sign contains 3 "doors" or divisions of 10° each called decanates, each of which is approached by 10 steps and ruled over by a different planet. Thus the 30° of each sign signify 3 steps in evolution, for as each sign is the vehicle of one of the 12 characteristic forces of the universe, at every 10° a new cycle or aspect of that force is encountered.

For instance, each sign has a planet which rules the sign as a whole, but it also has as sub-rulers the planets which rule the signs which form the other two members of the same triplicity. Thus since Aries governs the head it is called the sign of the Thinker and is ruled by Mars, with the Sun and Jupiter, rulers of the second and third fiery signs, as subrulers. Its symbolic animal is the ram, hence those born in this sign will exhibit the general characteristics of that animal as well as those of Mars. The first 10° are ruled by Mars whose clear, bright red blends with the purple of the preceding sign (Pisces) producing the dark, angry, purplish red which is so typical of the most earthly aspect of the animal nature. The first 10° therefore express the most pushing and dominating tendencies of the ram which uses its horns to force its way through the brambles and brush and to fight to maintain its leadership, just as the same division of thinkers use their powers (horns) to overcome all physical obstacles and maintain their leadership in the practical administration. of affairs as executives, warriors, et cetera.

The third decanate is ruled by Jupiter, but here the red is darkened by blending with the earth browns of the next